Car choices

Shelster

Shelster

Shelster

Associate
Joined
3 Aug 2003
Posts
2,028
Location
Plymouth, UK
It appears Mrs S's love of her Fiat 500 has now come to an end after it costing us the best part of a grand in parts and labour this year, with another big bill coming next year with a new exhaust and aircon compressor looking likely. think the tippig point was the 2 pints of water I have had to get out of the passenger footwell due to a leak from somewhere (suspecting aircon on this one, but drain from interior condensor that is in the central console.

WIth her working in the NHS, she has access to a leasing scheme they run that takes the lease cost out before taxes.

She (we) have been looking at options and the two that we ahve narrowed it down to are an Audi A1 1.6 diesel Sportback and a Mini Copper 1.5 d

We are going to have a look at both this weekend, but was wondering given these two options which one would you go for?

Realise that the Audi is VW in disguise and so all the hoo haa with the emissions and cheat device may be a factor. Also, the Mini is a BMW too....

I am leaning more towards the A1 at present as from the literature I have read, it appears to have the larger boot of the two, which will be more beneficial to us.

Am also trying to get Mrs S to redo the quote for the Audi as she decided to go for the leather seats and I presonally reckon it would be better use of money getting things like parking sensors and the likes.

Costs wise, there is only 20 quid a month betwen the Mini (cheaper) and Audi
 
The Mini is a fresh new design having been released as an all new model only last year. The A1 is somewhat older so this may away your decision as the Mini will have nicer and newer tech.
 
Cheers for that...was not aware that the Mini was newer....guess it will all come down to what we think when looking at them. Not sure what the standard items on the Mini are tbh....more looking this afternoon
 
I think the mini website has a spec simulator, which would tell you what is standard and what isn't
e: It comes with DAB, hands free phone, on board computer, front fogs and 1 or 2 other bits which would always be expected like tyre pressure monitoring. So basically, not very much is standard.
 
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Trying the Mini site now....but the IT police in work have it hobbled to hell and back, so cant see any images or use anything of use on there....have a lovely black background.
 
Amother update from this end....managed to get on the NHS fleet website and the car they have for the Mini is listed on there as 'Mini Cooper D 1.5 3dr (diesel)'
 
Shelster said:
Amother update from this end....managed to get on the NHS fleet website and the car they have for the Mini is listed on there as 'Mini Cooper D 1.5 3dr (diesel)'
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Ah, I was looking at the spec for the One D, I'll have a look in a min whether the Cooper has any additional bits


e: Nope, looks to be the same standard kit
 
Also worth looking at leases outside of the NHS schemes. Whilst the NHS ones include maintenance and insurance, whenever I have done any quotes they always come out on the more expensive side.

As an example, a Renault Clio 1.5dci Dyn S Nav on private lease was £486 down and £162 a month, £20 a month to insure and £500 to get the 4yr service pack (£202/month over length of lease). The equivalent deal in an NHS scheme was £282 a month. Only thing really falling outside private was cost of tyres. So over 36 months would I really spend £2880 on tyres?

There can be some good deals out there if you hunt around. A quick google gets a Cooper D 1.5 3dr for £710 upfront and 48*£197, add the mini TLC pack for £350, so that's £219 a month. Add your insurance onto that and see where it comes out to compare with the £280 or so for the NHS option. (and remember, they are both leases, so adding anything extra means you are paying for something over and above the standard vehicle you will not own at the end so is it really worth it?).

With the schemes being a salary sacrifice you also have to take into account that it can affect the pension also (only really relevant if she is on final salary and getting close to pension age).
 
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Cleisthenes said:
Ah, I was looking at the spec for the One D, I'll have a look in a min whether the Cooper has any additional bits


e: Nope, looks to be the same standard kit
Click to expand...

Obviously it isn't the same standard kit or they wouldn't both exist in the model range - the Cooper has more as standard.
 
There's a difference of 2s 0-60mph and 20hp between the One D and Cooper D for a start. Steel wheels (One D) vs Alloys (Cooper D) and generally a bit more 'bling' to the Cooper range.
 
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don't get a one, go for the cooper, only get the D if you really need a diesel i.e 20k a year miles, the petrol mini is so much better
 
Well.....we did the looking and test drive at the weekend and it looks like we are going for a Mini.

Went to Audi 1st and Mrs S opening line was 'its a bit like an Astra isn't it?' so not off to a good start there. Had a look inside and things did not get any better. 'Nothing in here makes me smile'.....and part of me had to agree with her. Yes, it was all a good quality and very functional, but it was a bit uninspiring. Went out on the test drive and when I asked if she wanted to drive was met with a big fat refusal (can put actual response in family friendly forum). So that was not a good start and then off to Mini we went.

From teh moment we got there, her demenour changed and coud tell she was prefering this option of the two. Had a look around a few and the inside was a more 'fun' place to sit. Not wanting to admit it, I was prefering the Mini, but was reserving my judgement until after the test drive.

We tested the diesel version and Mrs S was straight into the drivers seat. She had a few issues getting the right gear for speed, but was soon adjusting to the new car and said she really liked the drive. Changed over to me and could really tell the difference between the two cars. The steering in the Mini felt heavier, yet more connected to the drive. Only had one issue where I was trying to put the car into Sport mode sat at some lights.....may have pushed gear stick too far over and dropped into reverse instead of first. Scared me, Mrs S and probably the bloke in the transit van sat behind me, who was fortunately far enough behind so that I didn't run into him. Did not manage to get it into Sport as the switch was playing up, but did enjoy tthe drive and that was in Green mode with it all turned down.

Once back, admitted that I prefered that car and we are now looking at getting a quote on the 5 door 1.5 Cooper petrol with Chili Pack and parking sensors from the Mini Business Manager. Already have one from an online company, but will be good to see if they can do any better. Realise that we will not be owing the car, but feel that the pack and snesors will be beneficial to us for the duration of the lease.

One of the best things I liked was the switch e gear in the Mini...very reminiscent of a jet or plane and the colur changing LED lighting was also good too. Decided on petrol version as we only really pootle around town and mileage for us is under 6k per year.
 
Wee bit confused as if to why you drove a diesel autovmini when intending to go petrol and possibly manual??

Don't get me wrong it'll be absolutely fine but its quite a different drive
 
Was down the fact they did not have a petrol one there at the time (was out on another drive) and we were thinking of getting a diesel at the time when in there too, but after gettign home and weighing things up, have plumped for the petrol.
 
Oh, was manual car on the TD too.....the driving mode change was a central console switch...changes between Green, Normal and Sport. Changes steering response and weight, turbo spool time and the gear change nag
 
that was me being a proper numpty and pushing the stick too far over.....feel that is a smally design flaw that there is no lift gate before you move the stick over to reverse. Normally used to a lift up shield or push down affair.....suppose I will get used to it...or crash a lot
 
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